[vankittens]

I picked up a rental 2021 Toyota Sienna from Budge at the airport a few days ago.

I drove 300 miles at night without realizing that I was only using daytime running lights. The light stalk was in the parking light position, so all the corner lights were at least on. The light on the road in front of me was bright enough and I just figured that it was a rental car with not-so-bright headlights. In fact, the light was brighter than most rental cars that I've had recently.

While I was driving on the interstate out of the airport, I was wondering why the highbeam wouldn't come on when I pushed the light stalk forward. The highbeam would come on when I pulled the light stalk towards me, but turn off after I let go(which was normal)

It was only while I stopped to fill gas that I walked to the front and realized that the low-beams weren't actually on. Only the daytime running light(around the headlight) was actually on. Felt like an idiot... but like I said, it was really bright.

Is it just me or are those daytime running light really bright?

 

[BostonPilot]

I picked up a rental 2021 Toyota Sienna from Budge at the airport a few days ago.

I drove 300 miles at night without realizing that I was only using daytime running lights. The light stalk was in the parking light position, so all the corner lights were at least on. The light on the road in front of me was bright enough and I just figured that it was a rental car with not-so-bright headlights. In fact, the light was brighter than most rental cars that I've had recently.

While I was driving on the interstate out of the airport, I was wondering why the highbeam wouldn't come on when I pushed the light stalk forward. The highbeam would come on when I pulled the light stalk towards me, but turn off after I let go(which was normal)

It was only while I stopped to fill gas that I walked to the front and realized that the low-beams weren't actually on. Only the daytime running light(around the headlight) was actually on. Felt like an idiot... but like I said, it was really bright.

Is it just me or are those daytime running light really bright?

You’re a future statistic.

 

[vankittens]

You’re a future statistic.

yes, the fault was completely mine...

but like I said, several rental cars(including a Chevy Traverse and Mazda CX-5 SUV) that I rented recently had low-beam headlights that were way dimmer than the daytime running lights on this 2021 Sienna. (light projected on the ground in front of the vehicle)

 

[circus]

With all those opaque (rotten) plastic headlights everywhere, you probably saw further than most.

 

[20swrt]

yes, the fault was completely mine...

but like I said, several rental cars(including a Chevy Traverse and Mazda CX-5 SUV) that I rented recently had low-beam headlights that were way dimmer than the daytime running lights on this 2021 Sienna. (light projected on the ground in front of the vehicle)

Based on your description - you rented a higher trim Sienna (Platinum/Limited). The LE and XLE daytime running lights actually come from the same LEDiode. However I think they emit different intensity. I do not know how much dimmer the DRL is tho - i never measured. Since it comes from the same LED (diode/device) - it uses the same reflector, hence the same light pattern unto the road in front of you (but on a lesser intensity).

So im not confused - can you confirm you rented the limited/platinum Sienna where the DRL is a separate/series of LEDs that surround the low beams (different from LE/XLE). Here is a video of limited/platinum which is different on the LE/XLE.

 

[vankittens]

Based on your description - you rented a higher trim Sienna (Platinum/Limited). The LE and XLE daytime running lights actually come from the same LEDiode. However I think they emit different intensity. I do not know how much dimmer the DRL is tho - i never measured. Since it comes from the same LED (diode/device) - it uses the same reflector, hence the same light pattern unto the road in front of you (but on a lesser intensity).

So im not confused - can you confirm you rented the limited/platinum Sienna where the DRL is a separate/series of LEDs that surround the low beams (different from LE/XLE). Here is a video of limited/platinum which is different on the LE/XLE.

This was the one that Budget gave me. The sticker by the door said it was produced in 8/2021.(not sure if that makes it a 2021 or 2022 model)

I put over 1500 miles on it for the long road trip during the 1-week rental.

 

[PAVirginia]

That’s why I always keep my lights on the automatic setting. If it’s raining but still bright out, I usually have to manually turn on my lights.

 

[wscan]

That’s why I always keep my lights on the automatic setting. If it’s raining but still bright out, I usually have to manually turn on my lights.

If you have the lights in auto and turn on the wipers, the lights come on automatically, although there is a short delay. Even if the wipers are in intermittent, the lights still come on automatically.

 

[jseyfert3]

Yes, I believe the proliferance of people driving without lights on is due to bright DRLs in some cars, and people thinking the headlights are just shitty.

DRLs combined with the trend to always-lit dashboards has contributed to this. In the “old days”, no DRLs, and no dash light if headlights were off. Even if you had lots of streetlights and didn’t realize the lights were off, your inability to read the dashboard tipped you off that your lights were off.

Normally you can tell this in modern cars cause the dash in day mode is shining like a spotlight in your eyes as it’s not dimmed for nighttime use, but that didn’t help you as you had it in parking light mode, so they’d be dimmed already.

That said, I have seen people driving in the dark, no streetlights, with NO lights, only the DRLs, with the light reflecting off their face from the dash lights like the light of a sun, and they seem clueless their lights aren’t on. Once I saw such a person on the interstate. And their DRLs weren’t even that bright. I pulled up directly alongside them in the left lane and several times shut my headlights off for a second or two and turned them back on (leaving my marker lights on the whole time) to try to convey to them their lights were off, by how much brighter my headlights were than their DRLs, but I wasn’t able to get the message across…

Worst case I ever saw was someone at night, no streetlights, driving with NO lights, no DRLs even, in an older vehicle with NO dashlights (which means headlights off!!!). And it was snowing. I wasn’t sure if they were a complete idiot or their lights were broke and they were an even bigger idiot driving anyway with all broken lights, at night, in the snow.

I see the lights off driving so often now I want a red LED message sign in my back window that I can have say “hey, TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS!” Along with other messages like “your tire is critically low on air” “your brakes are smoking” “X light is burned out” “your cargo is loose” etc. With dedicated buttons for each message.

 

[vankittens]

I see the lights off driving so often now I want a red LED message sign in my back window that I can have say “hey, TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS!”

That's probably not a good idea. Those people will end up rear-ending you because they want to get really close to see what your LED message sign says.

 

[walkmanx]

This was the one that Budget gave me. The sticker by the door said it was produced in 8/2021.(not sure if that makes it a 2021 or 2022 model)

I put over 1500 miles on it for the long road trip during the 1-week rental.


View attachment 59691

what was your impression after a week in the LE?

 

[akphs]

yes, the fault was completely mine...

but like I said, several rental cars(including a Chevy Traverse and Mazda CX-5 SUV) that I rented recently had low-beam headlights that were way dimmer than the daytime running lights on this 2021 Sienna. (light projected on the ground in front of the vehicle)

No, it's not completely yours. DOT bears some responsibility for allowing manufacturers to illumunate the panel at night when the lights aren't on! This isn't just a DRL problem, it's true of many cars. In Ye Olden Days, you could tell that the headlights weren't on at night because...your instruments were dark. Sure, there are folks who can't be helped, who never look at the instruments, but for mildly competent drivers, it was a huge clue. I've been railing about this for several decades (possibly since buying a Ford Taurus in 1990), but for some reason DOT never comes over to my house to discuss it.

 

[XPham]

what was your impression after a week in the LE?

I'd like to know the answer to this as well!

 

[Therbi]

In Ye Olden Days, you could tell that the headlights weren't on at night because...your instruments were dark.

You and JSEYFERT3 both said it and I couldnt agree more. It has nothing to do with DRL's I dont think. They're mandatory here, but correct me if I am wrong, not in the States.
We've had DRL's for years in Canada but idiots driving around with no lights on is much more common than it used to be. I would think the common denominator has to be brightly lit dash lights making the driver think they have full lights on. If not that, something has definitely changed in recent years thats made this a more common site. Surprised there hasnt been more accidents because of it.

 

[vankittens]

what was your impression after a week in the LE?

pros: lots of room to stretch out, very relaxed driving on the interstate, so many cupholders, great visibility front and back

cons: wind noise, cargo floor not completely flat, ride not very smooth

EDIT: I'm renting another minivan next week. If I get another Sienna, I'll report back. (although, if I get the usual Pacifica or something else, I'll also make a comparison)

 

[pamhar]

pros: lots of room to stretch out, very relaxed driving on the interstate, so many cupholders, great visibility front and back

cons: wind noise, cargo floor not completely flat, ride not very smooth

Agree with the pros.

Agree with first two cons... we have LE and ride is smooth... wonder if PSI issue especially since temps cooler.

Years ago had similar issue with Altima where it was just getting dark and lights seemed on but wasn't until at a gas station that someone mentioned luckily and I turned on.

Really should not have lit dashboard if lights are not on.

 

[vankittens]

Agree with the pros.

Agree with first two cons... we have LE and ride is smooth... wonder if PSI issue especially since temps cooler.

I remember looking at the TPMS reading in the dash and everything looked normal.

It was a rental, so perhaps the tires or suspension were old and worn out. Just looked at the rental receipt. It had over 55,000 miles on it at time of return. (not sure if that's a lot for a rental minivan that was manufactured in 8/2021, just over a year ago)

 

[cougarhound]

Omg you're one of those people. Jk Lol....but I see these people doing this all of the time and they are so oblivious that they won't even respond when you beep at them or highbeam them. I even saw a semi honking at them one time and they were still clueless.

For this reason, all new cars have a little green light on the dashboard now to let you know that the headlights are on.

 

[jseyfert3]

The other way to fix this could potentially mandate that all vehicles with dashboards lit during the day must have automatic headlights that cannot be turned off at night, without turning off the dash lights too.

 

[cougarhound]

The other way to fix this could potentially mandate that all vehicles with dashboards lit during the day must have automatic headlights that cannot be turned off at night, without turning off the dash lights too.

That would useful for drive thru movies too. Yes I still go to those and was pretty annoyed at how many interior lights I couldn't turn off!